California Poppy Festival

April 19-21, 2024 

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Antelope Valley Fair & Event Center
2551 West Avenue H
Lancaster, CA

Cost: $9-13, poppyfestival.com

Friday 4-10 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

The California Poppy Festival is an annual spring celebration of the California State Flower. When nature has cooperated you can see massive fields of orange poppies delighting guests at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve nearby (different location & fee) but the festival goes on, regardless of the number of poppies each season. The festival's highlights include musical entertainment, food and crafts vendors, games, demos, an awesome art show and changing displays and themed areas.

2024 Bands

Emulators
Beach St. A Go Go
Twist on Taylor
Past Action Heroes
Vilma Diaz Y La Sonora
Over Drive
Cervantes
Mariachi Las Colibri
Mariachi Angeles de Pepe Martinez Jr.
Wild Side Band
Red NOT Chili Peppers
UpstreamRunaway Band
7 Summers: A Morgan Wallen Tribute Band

California Poppy Festival celebrates California's state flower in the place it grows exceedingly well-- in and around Lancaster, Calif. Each year when poppies bloom wildly in fields approx. 15 miles west of the festival site on Lancaster Road, and thousands of tourists come to see them, the City of Lancaster puts on a celebration to honor the colorful, happy plant.

The town becomes a festival park with bands, entertainment, vendors, foods, rides, games and contests that the public is invited to.

Antelope Valley offers some of the best viewing locations to see the springtime poppy blossoms at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve.

The California Poppy Festival was launched as a festival to enhance the visitor experience, and also as part of the Earth Day celebration. Since the Golden California Poppy blooms each year around the time of Earth Day, it seemed appropriate for Lancaster to combine the two events into the California Poppy Festival. The California Poppy Festival carries on the Earth Day tradition of concern and caring for the environment.

For an affordable admission the festival offers a full day of entertainment in the hub of Antelope Valley, located in the High Desert a little more than one hour north by car from Los Angeles.

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve - This State Natural Reserve is located on California's most consistent poppy-bearing land. A good hiking route for a variety of wildflowers would be around the North Poppy Loop Trail and then up and over the Tehachapi Vista Point Trail, or up to Kitanemuk Vista Point. Poppies bundle themselves up when it's cold and windy, so check the forecast before coming out. Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve comes alive with the seasonal surprises of the Mojave Desert Grassland habitat. The duration and intensity of colors and scents vary from year to year. Although the wildflower season generally lasts from as early as mid-February through mid-May, the park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset.

Eight miles of trails through the gentle rolling hills, include a paved section for wheelchair access. Views include the valley to the San Gabriel Mountains.

Facilities include the Jane S. Pinheiro Interpretive Center, offering a short video, wildlife and plant displays and gift shop. Open daily during the wildflower season, there are also shaded picnic tables nearby.

Tours Free guided tours are offered daily (if staff is available) Weekdays: 11 a.m. Weekends: 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. Parking Fees $5- 10, approx.

While visiting the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, we also suggest you visit the Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park, located seven miles west of the Poppy Reserve just past 210th Street West. Here you will see a native Joshua Tree and Juniper woodland, one of the few left of this habitat which once spread across the Antelope Valley. In favorable conditions, Joshua Trees bloom with soft white artichoke-shaped flowers.

Other wildflowers include lupine, goldfield, cream cups, and coreopsis.

Location: 15 miles west of Lancaster at 15101 Lancaster Road. From Highway 14: Take the Avenue I exit and head west 15 miles. Avenue I becomes Lancaster Road. From I-5: Take Hwy 138 east and turn right on 170th Street West. Make a left at the end, onto Lancaster Road. Follow the road two miles. Latitude/Longitude: 34.72482 N, 118.41271 W

Information Poppy Reserve Wildflower Hotline (661) 724-1180 Theodore Payne Foundation Wildlflower Hotline (818) 768-3533 Peak Poppy Bloom: Wildflower blooms occur generally from March through May. The peak viewing period is usually mid-April. see website - parks.ca.gov

Maximize Your Experience and give yourself time to see more than 55 acres of activities at the festival. Then be sure to visit the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve nearby!

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.